Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0Road trip · Nashville to Memphis
The Tennessee BBQ Trail
Nashville to Memphis in two days: whole hog in Lexington, dry ribs and barbecue spaghetti in Memphis. Free printable map.
Barbecue · Downtown, Shelby County
Central BBQ
Overnight-marinated ribs served wet, dry or half and half, near Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum.
- Today
Why go
Central BBQ's Downtown spot sits near Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Orpheum.1 The ribs are marinated overnight and slow smoked, then served wet, dry or half and half.2
What to order
Half-Slab of Ribs
Marinated overnight and slow smoked, served wet, dry or half and half.
Source: Central BBQ2
Good to know
Ribs three ways
Wet, dry or half and half.2
What we don’t know yet
We only publish what we can source. Here’s what’s missing.
- Prices
- Photos
- Wood and pits
- Cash or card
- The pitmaster
More barbecue nearby
Double J's
E G.E. Patterson Ave · about 0.1 mi
124 E G.E. Patterson Ave
The Pig On Beale
Beale Street · about 0.5 mi
167 Beale Street
Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous
Open Tue to SatDowntown · about 0.7 mi
52 S. Second Street
Nearest trail: Memphis in a Day, about 0.7 miles away.
Related guides
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0City guide · Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis BBQ
Rendezvous ribs, barbecue spaghetti, Cozy Corner's Cornish hen and Payne's chopped pork, with prices from each spot's own menu.
Photo: Southern Foodways Alliance, CC BY 2.0Style guide · Tennessee
Memphis vs. Nashville BBQ
Dry rub vs. sauce, ribs vs. whole hog, and where to taste each, all sourced.
Researched by Erik Peterson, sources linked below.